MBLC MLS Resuming Full Service Guidelines

With the release of the Baker-Polito Administration’s Reopening Massachusetts Report earlier this week plans for libraries transitioning from virtual to physical services has begun in earnest. The process of returning to our buildings, redeploying staff, and reengaging with our users is complex and serious work given the health and safety risks around the COVID-19 pandemic.

The MBLC and MLS have been responding to numerous questions around how libraries should resume full services to meet community needs while, more importantly, keeping staff and library users safe. With no play book to refer to, we held a series of 10 information gathering sessions in association with the nine automated library networks and heard from over 575 librarians from across the state. These sessions proved to be invaluable to identify common concerns and challenges facing libraries of all sizes.

These sessions helped to create the materials that we are making available on the MLS COVID-19 LibGuide today (https://guides.masslibsystem.org/COVID19/COOP). We hope that the information will help libraries to create a well-informed phased resumption of service plans that can be tailored to meet the unique needs of their community and help to better engage their local municipal leaders in the process.

Although guidance and best practices below were created for public librarians, it is our hope that other library types may find the info useful.

Guidelines: Today we are releasing Phase 1 guidance. This document provides details and best practices drawn from national library examples and expert recommendations from State, Federal, and scientific agencies. Additional guidance will be added as phases move forward. https://guides.masslibsystem.org/ld.php?content_id=54800213

Road map: This document provides a general overview of operational priorities and needed resources across the 4 phases of the Massachusetts Reopening Commission recommendations. It can be used with staff and local municipal leaders to gain an understanding of the many steps that will be involved in the process. https://guides.masslibsystem.org/ld.php?content_id=54800239

We are also preparing an FAQ to answer specific detailed common questions that came out of this process. The documents released today should be seen as living documents. Changes and updates will be made due to significant changes in state reporting of COVID-19 cases, and on changing understanding of Coronavirus science and safety protocol as outlined by state and federal agencies.

Many thanks go out to our nine Library Automated Network administrators for their help in quickly pulling together our listening sessions and to the many people who joined us to share their many insights.

In addition we would like to thank the staffs of the MBLC and MLS for their guidance, expertise, and the amazing work that they do on a daily basis to help our libraries navigate these stressful and uncertain times.

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Massachusetts Library System is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation funded by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners under budget line 7000-9401. The Massachusetts Library System is an Equal Opportunity Employer.